Steve

My specialist experience teaching students with autism: I am an ASD specialist with several years experience in ASD SEN schools.  I currently work as an Assistant SENCo in Islington supporting teachers to find the best approaches to make their classrooms inclusive and to support neurodiverse students.  In my previous role I led three teams of professionals working within an Ofsted Outstanding ASD specialist school and I had my own class group for many years.  I have taught a broad range of age groups and students with differing levels of communication.  I am a strong proponent of the SCERTS framework for supporting children with ASD as it has a firm backing in research based evidence and helps to focus teachers in on the key targets for their pupil’s development.  I have spent many years developing EHCP and Individual Education Plans for students with autism.      

My specialist experience teaching Maths: In my current role I design specific intervention programmes for maths and I lead a booster group for Year 3.  I have taught maths at a range of levels from P-levels up to Functional Skills for teens.  A key part of my maths teaching involves the use of objects to reinforce understanding alongside multiple visual representation methods to firm up understanding.  Alongside this is varied fluency to develop a thorough base and plenty of real life application and problem solving.  I am a big fan of White Rose’s maths programmes for teachers but I have a good understanding of others too.    

My specialist experience teaching English: I am a qualified Sounds-Write practitioner and I support pupils in years 2, 3, 5 and 6 with reading, writing and spelling catch up interventions.  I have taught literacy to a wide range of students including verbal and non-verbal children pulling necessary targets from the National Curriculum at the same time as entering the wonderful world of literature and storytelling.  

My specialist experience providing fun sessions to help students engage in learning: I have been very lucky to train as a teacher with LETTA and Phoenix Primary and Secondary School.  Creativity in learning was such a central aspect and this has been a foundation throughout my teaching career.  These days I work in a wonderful Steiner school which offers an alternative to mainstream teaching and has offered me many insights.  I have a strong record of bringing energy and enthusiasm to my teaching and I love to adapt my approach to meet a child’s needs on that particular day. 

My skills and experience supporting students to develop their independence: I have experience promoting independence across age groups - from supporting schools-based independence and communication using smiLE  interventions for younger learners to setting up internships for sixth formers.  I have used AFLS target lists for independence and I am trained in Systematic Instruction which offers a nimble approach to prompting and fading support.  As part of my NPQML research project I developed an independence programme which is adaptable across Key Stages and I have a Life Skills video-prompting project which I am continuing to develop.  

My skills and experience supporting students in collaboration with their schools: Communication is vital within my role as a SENCo and previously as a Key Stage Lead.   I work closely with teachers providing support and training to empower them and to provide the most impactful teaching approaches for their pupils.  I have previously tutored pupils outside of school where I worked with their teachers to “pre-load” the curriculum ahead of their classroom learning.  Throughout my teaching career I have sat on Multi-Disciplinary Teams and worked with families to get the best outcomes for pupils.